Aladdin Lights, a lighting producer primarily based out of South Korea, primarily creates versatile LED fixtures for filmmakers. Their RGBWW MOSAIC line initially caught my eye at Cine Gear 2022. I’m excited to lastly get my palms on the distinctive 600W MOSAIC 4×4 RGBWW for an in depth overview. Right here we go!
The Mosaic line at Cinegear 2022 drew my consideration due to its RGBWW colour and enormous format (obtainable in 3×6′ and a pair of×4′, alongside the Aladdin 4×4′ version I examined for this overview). I’m at all times in search of massive, tender sources that arrange rapidly and may slot in tight spots (for instance, close to a ceiling), with out the necessity for complicated rigging or costly gear like pace rails or menace arms. At first look, the 140-degree beam angle MOSAIC appears prefer it is likely to be the ticket. However first, we have to zoom out a bit and discuss the place the MOSAIC suits into the general LED lighting image in 2023.
You possibly can break down many of the present LED lighting areas into just a few easy segments:
Concerning the Skinny or Versatile class, Litegear and Intellytech instantly spring to thoughts as opponents to Aladdin with their Spectrum/LiteMat/Auroris within the case of Litegear, and LiteCloth within the case of Intellytech. These days, Aputure as amaran and Nanlite have additionally dipped their toes into the versatile LED fixture house, however with usually smaller total dimensions, a relative lack of built-in DMX management, and lower cost factors.
Aladdin’s MOSAIC finds its area of interest on this house by giving us versatile color-capable lamp heads and bigger dimensions. Let’s begin by opening the field.
Preliminary impression
The Aladdin MOSAIC 4×4′ ships in a protracted, wheeled laborious case that may match completely in your compact automotive, grip truck, or SUV. In truth, I used to be stunned by how small all the pieces breaks down (the lamp head solely takes up a couple of third of the case). There’s some minimal padding within the case, however nothing concerning the MOSAIC appears notably fragile, which provides to its total enchantment. There isn’t a reliance on glass, and the place plastic is used, I don’t see it being a typical impression level for drops or exterior bumps.
Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Aladdin ships the MOSAIC with just a few objects to get you began:
- Versatile Lamp Head
- Energy Provide
- Energy Provide Holder
- Extension Cable (16′)
- Fundamental Head Cable (9.8′)
- Body
- Diffusion Materials with Strong Skirted Sides
- Grid
- 2 x Small Internal Bag
- Hand Controller
- 16 “Bungee Balls”
This all looks like an entire package; chances are you’ll by no means want every other equipment past this listing.
At first look, the body, specifically, appears just a little daunting. Nonetheless, all of it assembles rapidly without having for me to seek the advice of any setup supplies or producer movies obtainable on-line. Every thing connects rapidly and is locked into place by small silver twisting knobs. In the usual configuration, you might be basically constructing a lightbox with skirted sides. As a DP, I’ve shot just a few episodes of a sequence referred to as VICE: Informer with a single tender overhead supply exactly like this. Possibly this may change into my go-to fixture for initiatives like that.
MOSAIC 4×4′ body items within the laborious case with just a few equipment eliminated. Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Upon opening the field, take observe. The body solely suits within the case a technique. When you’ve figured it out, placing all the pieces again into place is straightforward. Rental homeowners may wish to take an image of how all the pieces packs away, laminate that photograph, and depart it within the case for future renters. It isn’t sophisticated as soon as you know the way, however when you don’t, the laborious case doorways might not shut.
Silver twist knobs maintain the body and rear mounting bar in place. Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Connecting the versatile lamp head to the body requires the usage of 16 bungee balls, that are included. If there’s a potential weak level within the setup, it’s right here. The bungee balls take extra weight than you’d anticipate, and you must use all sixteen to evenly distribute the load of the lamp head all through the body. Join too few, and the load of the lamp head will pull a given bungee ball free from the body if it’s raised off the bottom. This implies you’ll should tie them collectively once more utilizing the friction level within the bungee ball itself.
An Aladdin Bungee Ball in motion. Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Though I didn’t discover any points with the lamp head breaking free or drooping as soon as all the pieces was up and working, I ponder if there could possibly be one other resolution aside from the bungee balls. Some recommendation: join all of the bungee balls to the lamp head on the bottom first earlier than making an attempt to lift all the pieces off the bottom.
After all, one of many benefits of the Aladdin MOSAIC being a versatile mat design is that you could possibly simply disregard the body/bungee ball system by connecting the lamp head on to the ceiling (with a wall spreader) or a grid with sturdy zip ties or security chains utilizing the grommets that ring the LED mat. Doing so would imply the diffusion accent wouldn’t be appropriate. Nonetheless, loads of different standalone frames available on the market present helpful diffusion in a pinch. These days, I’ve been working with sound stage grids which have weight limits. The MOSAIC 4×4′ is low weight sufficient that I wouldn’t be involved mounting one or a number of over expertise with the correct security chains in place.
The diffusion is held in place by nook fabric straps. Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Let’s discuss that diffusion for a second – it’s basically a full grid, and the perimeters make the most of stable black materials to stop mild leaks. The diffusion slides into place, and the body’s dimensions maintain all the pieces taut with the assistance of fabric bands on the corners. Sadly, if you wish to use one other power of slip-on diffusion in these dimensions, you’ll have to attend. The Aladdin group talked about they’re in lively conversations with DoPChoice (third occasion maker of high quality lighting equipment). I hope this may result in different forms of diffusion with the identical slip-on design.
You’ll want to use the included silver child pin accent to attach the body to a stand of your alternative. As soon as all the pieces is put collectively, the general weight is impressively low. I may simply carry the entire lamp head + body round in a means I can’t with Skypanels, for instance. Nonetheless, I discovered I most well-liked to make use of a rolling combo stand to maneuver the fixture across the set a bit sooner, given the bigger dimensions. I want Aladdin had gone for a Kino-style again mount right here – I’m simply so used to that system, and a lollipop or wing mount model would have been good and would have led to a bit extra flexibility when panning or tilting the fixture. With out a Kino-type mount, use a grip knuckle and tilt up and down as wanted.
One other pin adapter that’s included is helpful for connecting the ability provide to your stand. Nonetheless, you received’t discover the clicking-in mechanism right here that has change into well-liked with manufacturers like Aputure or Nanlux. I extremely counsel buying a mafer clamp and leaving it in your Aladdin laborious case to maintain the ability provide off the bottom and affixed to the stand. A bit of mechanism to click on the controller into place on the ability provide would even be good, versus having to hook it over a stand. These are minor quibbles with the included equipment. Nonetheless, each quality-of-life enchancment means much less time between setups on location.
Rivals
You possibly can study lots about the place a model thinks its product will compete primarily based on the chosen worth level. All three of the at present obtainable Aladdin MOSAIC flat fixtures (tube variations are delivery quickly) sit in a premium place by way of value however don’t fairly land on the high of the market when in comparison with the newly introduced inflexible Litegear Spectrum 8 with its roughly $9000 worth level or the extra versatile $14K 5×10′ Auroris.
Right here’s the present pricing for the Aladdin MOSAIC line:
One of many key variations out of the gate between the Spectrum 8/Auroris and Aladdin’s MOSAIC line is the usage of pixels. Litegear’s 5×10′ Auroris options 12 massive format programmable pixels, giving the Auroris fixture the flexibility to do extra movement-based results. Aladdin’s MOSAIC fixture doesn’t have built-in programmable pixels, however for me, this isn’t a deal breaker, as my want to make use of pixels isn’t nice. Your reply is likely to be completely different when you usually work on music movies, stage reveals, or flashy product and style shoots.
Do not forget that though the Spectrum sequence from Litegear has colour, it isn’t bendable just like the Aladdin MOSAIC line or Litegear’s personal Auroris line. The newer Spectrum updates additionally make their lamp heads just a little thicker than earlier generations of the Litegear Spectrum. Meals for thought!
As I alluded to earlier, Intellytech makes some versatile lighting. Nonetheless, their new LiteCloth 3.0 line at present tops out at 400W, and it possible wouldn’t be capable of compete with the 600W MOSAIC 4×4′ by way of pure output.
Management
The Aladdin MOSAIC is controllable with a hand controller, rear lamp head controller (minimal management choices), and over Bluetooth utilizing the All In App, built-in Lumen Radio, or a 5-pin DMX enter which offers further choices together with your favourite DMX accent.
The handy MOSAIC hand controller. Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
In follow, the hand controller may be very straightforward and intuitive to make use of, and I additionally discovered the app to be one of many higher cell functions from a lighting firm. All of it simply works. Plus, the 4×4′ MOSAIC connects rapidly to my iOS gadget with a large number of choices for dialing in any favourite colours or Kelvin temperatures.
The rear lamp head controller doesn’t present a ton of choices for altering settings. Nonetheless, it’s a quick resolution to audition a unique colour or Kelvin temperature. As you possibly can see from the picture under, you don’t get any indication about precisely which Kelvin temp or colour you’re at in a given second, however it’s a quick technique to eyeball issues on the run by simply watching the colours change in your topic.
Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
Typically, I’m by no means going to complain on the subject of extra choices for controlling a lighting fixture. Extra is at all times higher.
The All In App additionally presents you with numerous results similar to Fireworks, Flicker, Welding, Hearth, Police Automotive, and extra. You do have just a few pre-set digital filters like Leaf Inexperienced, City Sodium, Sundown Purple, Hello Sodium, and others, however they aren’t locked to well-known and numbered widespread gel varieties from the likes of Rosco or Lee.
Output & Kelvin dealing with in CCT mode
I went forward and examined the output utilizing lux and Kelvin dealing with of the Aladdin MOSAIC 4×4′ at a distance of three ft with my Sekonic C-700U Spectrometer. Listed below are my outcomes, beginning with a goal of 5600K with no equipment or modifiers connected. I recorded a wonderful CRI of 95.6 all through testing.
A results of 6574K is a bit additional than I would really like from the 5600K goal and a so-so total end result on the subject of Kelvin accuracy. Later in testing, I handle that on my specific fixture by discovering the optimum settings for hitting 5600K daylight.
Now for a goal of 3200K:
A results of 2993K is nearer to the goal of 3200K when in comparison with the outcomes on the daylight finish of the Kelvin vary. Output stays about the identical.
Lastly, I wished to find out the optimum controller settings for getting the closest to true 5600K as potential, so I stored metering with my Sekonic Spectromaster C-700U till I set the controller to 5030K and bought the outcomes under:
As you possibly can see, it’s potential to get to a really correct Kelvin temperature when you use a Spectrometer and don’t essentially observe the controller menu numbers 1:1. One of many good issues concerning the Mosaic 4×4′ is that the output stays comparatively constant as we transfer by way of the CCT vary.
Conclusion
Aladdin’s MOSAIC line is a powerful large-format soft-light supply that’s versatile sufficient to mount in numerous locations or bend to suit an present location. It sports activities a premium price ticket and could also be a rental-only merchandise for some, however there are few opponents when evaluating watt to watt, flexibility, and dimensions.
The bungee ball design takes some getting used to, the Kelvin accuracy isn’t excellent, and I want the body mounting resolution have been a bit extra versatile. Nevertheless, the general setup time is low, and transport is straightforward within the wheeled laborious case. If we’re speaking high quality of sunshine, this can be a bi-color fixture that may stay a go-to for me as a beautiful tender key mild in a wide range of conditions. Plus, my Gaffers will recognize the multitude of DMX choices obtainable over the 5-pin port or built-in. I do know I’ll be utilizing the All In App on smaller shoots the place Bluetooth works as a wonderfully acceptable possibility in a pinch.
There’s a lot to like right here concerning the MOSAIC sequence, and I sit up for seeing how Aladdin continues to assist increase the road with further fixtures and new 1st and third occasion equipment.
Picture credit score: Graham Sheldon/CineD
What do you suppose? Will you be including the MOSAIC to your future shoots? Tell us within the feedback under!